History Daily 1283: Operation Raspberry Takes on the U-Boats
Jan 1, 2026
In January 1942, a retired British naval officer turns wargames into a tactical strategy to combat U-boat threats in the Atlantic. His team uses chalk and ingenuity to simulate battle scenarios, leading to a groundbreaking discovery about U-boat attack patterns. Named Operation Raspberry, the tactic is put to the test and results in a significant victory against enemy submarines. This innovative approach not only trains thousands but also plays a critical role in diminishing the U-boat threat by late 1943.
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Retired Commander Recruited For Wargames
- Gilbert Roberts returned to service after being recruited from retirement to help fight U-boats using wargames.
- He established a tactical unit in a derelict top-floor room at Western Approaches Command to recreate U-boat decisions.
Wrens Form The Unlikely Tactical Team
- Roberts staffed his unit primarily with Women's Royal Naval Service members because regular officers refused to spare men.
- The Wrens ran hundreds of simulations and discovered a new anti-U-boat tactic they named Operation Raspberry.
Close-Range Attacks Revealed A Tactical Weakness
- The Wrens deduced U-boats attacked at very close range, then dove to escape counterattack, contradicting earlier assumptions.
- This realization enabled a proactive escort response that increased the chance of hitting fleeing submarines.